New images show how the Beehive Centre in Cambridge could look under Railpen’s revised plans
New images show the Beehive Centre could look in future under revised plans being put forward by owner Railpen.
The Cambridge retail park is earmarked for a radical redevelopment into retail, leisure and community space, alongside laboratories, offices and a new public park.
As the Cambridge Independent exclusively revealed earlier this month, the plans have been overhauled by pension fund manager Railpen following public feedback to its earlier rounds of consultation.
And as reported, drop-in public consultation events and an online webinar were held last week, where visitors spoke to the project team and left feedback to contribute to the design process.
Now we can show an artist’s impressions of how the site would look.
The updated plans include a new public park, known as Hive Park, following calls for more green space, and lower building heights than previously proposed after concerns were raised by neighbours, councillors and the conservation charity Cambridge Past, Present & Future.
Views from surrounding streets have been improved, with a better boundary, and a new larger square at the centre will create space for events.
There have also been changed to the connectivity and transport plans for the scheme, with a new direct cycle and pedestrian route running through the spine of the development, and a proposal for a CYCLOPS junction at the Coldham’s Lane entrance, like the one being created in Milton Road, to separate pedestrians and cyclists from motor traffic. Fifteen public buses an hour could be funded by the scheme.
About 20 new shops and leisure facilities, including a small supermarket and gym, are envisaged. Some of the key existing retailers at the centre will be relocated to the neighbouring Cambridge Retail Park, which Railpen bought for about £100m in 2020 and is also redeveloping.
Matthew Howard, head of property at Railpen, said: “There is still lots of work to do but we have always believed that a redeveloped Beehive Centre will benefit residents, workers and visitors – from more jobs in the neighbourhood and a varied mix of shops, restaurants, cafés, leisure and community spaces, to significantly improved public transport provision and now a new public park.”
The site could be home to more than 6,000 jobs, including 2,000 requiring no specialist qualifications, according to Railpen.
It is also working with groups to provide community space, including Cambridge Science Centre, Abbey People, Cambs Youth Panel and Cam Skate. A youth facility, a new educational hub and ‘Makers Lab’ are proposed, along with skateboarding and roller-skating space.
Following the latest round of consultation, Railpen hopes to submit a planning application to Cambridge City Council in August, which councillors are likely to vote on in November or December.
If approved, redevelopment work could start in the second quarter of 2027.
The work could take six years to complete.
To find out more about the scheme, or provide feedback, visit beehivecentreconsultation.co.uk.
